A2 FP1 : Consolidation of power, character and aims

Question 1

Conceptual Awareness

Describe the events of Elizabeth’s early life that shaped her personality.

Answer 1

• Traumatic childhood, mother executed and made illegitimate through an act of parliament, publically humilating her.
• Spent the last years of Henry VIII’s reign in a stable environment in the court of Catherine Parr, where she developed her moderate protestant beliefs.
• Thomas Seymour encouraged Elizabeth’s childhood crush on him, however he was executed for treason when he made his intentions of marrying her clear ; leaving Elizabeth with a pathological fear of marriage.
• Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower of London, at the Traitor’s gate, after the Wyatt rebellion ; from thus Elizabeth learnt to keep her thoughts and beliefs to herself, a trait she exhibited on many occasions.

Question 2

How did Elizabeth differ to Mary at the time of her accession?

Answer 2

Elizabeth was considerably younger, 25 years old, she was considerably better educated, had a shrewder grasp of political processes in their wider sense and was, for the most part, a shrewder judge of character.

Question 3

What were Elizabeth’s beliefs about her right to rule?

Answer 3

Elizabeth believed that she was entitled to rule the Kingdom directly, and from the start of the reign it was clear who was in charge. In December 1558 the Spanish Ambassador noted that Elizabeth was more feared than her sister was an gave orders as “absolutely as her father did.”

Question 4

What are some key aspects of Elizabeth’s personality?

Answer 4

• She had a quick temper but could charm people
• Inherited her grandfather’s miserliness in her reluctance to spend money
• Brought up as a princess and probable heir.
• Learnt quickly that her demeanor and appearance helped to symbolise her importance and status.
• Determined to preserve the perogatorive powers of the crown.

Question 5

What were Elizabeth’s short-term aims?

Answer 5

• Consolidate position
• Settle religious issues
• Pursue a peaceful settlement with the French

Question 6

What were some problems that Elizabeth faced at the time of her accession?

Answer 6

• England had suffered a series of bad harvests, hence food was expensive and scarce
• Country had suffered from the ravages of a flu epedemic, highest rate of mortality since the black death two centuries ago.
• Political and religious situation were delicate, England had fought a disasterous war against France which had resulted in the loss of Calais.